Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes wrote a letter to constituents about prioritizing funding for children's education. She has experience teaching in public schools and wants to lower class sizes, increase individualized learning plans, and improve access to higher education. Oakes is working on legislation to eliminate corporate tax breaks to pay for the Michigan 2020 Plan, which would provide free tuition at community colleges and public universities for high school graduates. The plan is aimed at training a skilled workforce for jobs and attracting businesses to the state.

1. Toll-free:(855)347-8095|Website:oakes.housedems.com
P.O.Box30014|Lansing,MI48909-7514
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STATEREPRESENTATIVESTACYERWINOAKES,ESQ.
Putting our
Children First
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
STACY ERWIN OAKES, ESQ.
Dear neighbor,
Our children should always come first. As the mother of two
young sons, please know that I share your concern for our
children’s future.
Having taught in Saginaw Public Schools and at Saginaw
Valley State University, my focus is on lowering class sizes to
give our students the one-on-one attention they need to be
successful; to allow parents, educators and administrators to
work together to structure individualized education plans that
reflecttheuniqueneeds,skillsandinterestsofourchildren;and
to increase access to higher education.
All children possess unique qualities that make them special.
I’m working to ensure each child has the opportunity to realize
his or her potential.
I hope this newsletter finds you well, and have a blessed day.
Yours in service,
Stacy Erwin Oakes, Esq.
State Representative
95th
District

2. Economists estimate that 62 percent of Michigan jobs will require post-
secondary education and training by 2018, while only 30 percent of working
adults in Saginaw County currently meet this demand.The time to act is now. If
we fail to meet this challenge, the best-paying jobs will continue to move away
– or will choose not to locate here in the first place.
As business leaders have called on our state to invest in our workforce through
higher education and skilled trades, per-student funding has declined
37 percent in the last decade alone, while spending per inmate has increased
42 percent. We currently spend more on an inmate in one year than we do on
the average four-year degree for a Michigan graduate.This is unacceptable.
Placing the single greatest investment we can make on the shoulders of our
students and working families is short-sighted.
We also need to reform the way we pay for higher education. Last year, I
co-sponsored legislation to give Michigan’s high school graduates – public,
private or home-schooled – the opportunity to have the cost of their college
education paid for by eliminating corporate tax breaks and other wasteful
spending that doesn’t serve to create jobs and stimulate our economy.
If Michigan wishes to be a state that new businesses will locate and invest in,
we must train the highly skilled workforce employers require in the new global
economy.This legislation will help us make Michigan a world leader again, and
we can do it without raising taxes on hardworking families and retirees.
Highereducationisvitaltoourfuture
Under the Michigan 2020 Plan, Michigan’s high
school graduates would have the opportunity
to have their undergraduate studies paid for in
full…
• The program, introduced as House Bills 4472-
4474, is loosely based on the wonderfully
successful Kalamazoo Promise, which has
helped increase economic activity in the
region by allowing hardworking students
and families to save their hard earned money.
These bills correspond with Senate Bills 223-
225.
• Students would be able to choose to attend
any of Michigan’s public community colleges
or universities and use their grant toward
the cost of their tuition, books and other
education-related expenses allowed by the
federal government for student aid.
• The grants will be paid for without raising
yourtaxesonecent.Throughacomprehensive
reviewofMichigan’staxcollectionwecanclose
the loopholes that allow companies to avoid
paying their taxes and give every Michigan
childtheopportunitytorealizetheirpotential.
TheMichigan2020Plan:Aninvestmentthatwilllastalifetime
Putting Children First
AsyourStateRepresentative,I’mworkingto…
• Restore critical funding for our public schools to keep class
sizes small, increase student achievement and ensure our children
have the opportunity to realize their full potential.
• Restore critical funding to our community colleges and state
universities to boost job training and put tuition rates within
reach for hardworking families.
• Link our skilled workforce training at community colleges to
local businesses and skilled trades so students are well-equipped
and prepared to compete for jobs in emerging fields.